Canberra emergency department waiting times improve

There has been an improvement in emergency department waiting times at Canberra's public hospitals.

The latest performance report by ACT Health shows 54 per cent of patients were seen on time during the September quarter.

That is up from 51 per cent for the same time the year before, but still well below the target of 70 per cent.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says the results are small steps in the right direction.

"In the first quarter of this financial year we're seeing those improvements continue," she said.

"We're sitting at about 58 per cent now and that's largely come about through the different streaming that's happening at Canberra Hospital.

"With the new beds that have opened we've been able to have a much bigger fast-tracking area and then the more acute area and that's helping to get those numbers up which is a great result."

The report also shows the two emergency departments had their busiest month on record in August, with almost 11,000 people presenting for treatment.

The median emergency department waiting time is 39 minutes.

The target for triage category two patients was met for the first time in three years, with 81 per cent of patients seen on time. That is up from 69 per cent the previous year.

But categories three and four are still well below target, with only 43 per cent of category three patients and half of category four patients seen on time.

Ms Gallagher says waiting times will continue to improve as more beds come online.

"I guess the challenge for us is how far can it improve?" she said.

"We're a two hospital town, in this quarter it shows that we've had the busiest month ever on record in August.

"The hospital is getting busier, people are using the hospital more, we're trying to provide more service so it's always going to be a balancing act I think of quality care versus the demand that's coming through the door."

There has also been a record number of births at Canberra's two public hospitals, with 4,854 births in 2012-13.

That is up 8 per cent on the previous year and up 70 per cent (or almost 2,000 births) since 2001-2002.

Canberra waiting times 'still a long way behind'

Opposition Leader Jeremy Hanson says Canberra's emergency department waiting times are a long way behind where they should be.

Mr Hanson says many Canberrans would be disappointed they are waiting longer than other Australians for treatment.

"Although there is some small improvement in some areas, this is after 12 years of steady decline in key performance data in our hospitals," he said.

"We'll keep up the pressure on the Government to make sure that hopefully this incremental improvement can be maintained because we're a long way behind where we should be."